NEW STUDY FROM FRANCE SHOWS THAT HAVING TYPE O BLOOD MAKES YOU LESS LIKELY TO HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes is a disease which is caused by a combination of factors: genetic, lifestyle and medical conditions. In a new study, French researchers discovered that blood type can affect risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes.

The study was carried out by researchers from the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in Villejuif, France. It included a large cohort of over 82,000 French women studied over a period of 1990 to 2008.

The results of the research offered some very interesting insights into the risk factors of type 2 diabetes for each blood type. Those with type A blood were 10 percent more likely to develop diabetes than type O and those with type B were at a 20 percent greater risk. The risk for those women with type AB blood was inconclusive.

When the researchers analyzed the results taking into account only Rhesus (Rh) factor, the risks were the same for all subjects. In other words, Rh factor had no effect on diabetes risk. But when the researchers took into consideration both blood type and Rh factor that results changed significantly.

Women with B+ blood type are 35 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when compared to women with type O-. Women with type A+ are 17 percent more likely and those with type A- 22 percent than those with O-. Women with AB blood type had a 26 percent higher risk.

Although researchers did not have an explanation for the link between blood type and diabetes risk, they claim that the results should also apply to men.This new data only proves additional risk by blood type, but there are still much better ways of identifying diabetes and diabetes risk.